Friends,

Before we get into this week's newsletter, I want to wish students, teachers, and their families a happy first day of school! As a mom to four kids, I know how many different emotions occur leading up to the first day of school... From students excited to meet new friends, to Moms nervous they forgot something on the back-to-school checklist, to teachers enjoying the last bit of calm before the new school year – this week is a big one in Hampton Roads!

Good luck to everyone as you head back to school...! And now on to this week's debrief!

Celebrating Our Local Mobile Healthcare Units

As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I've seen firsthand how my patient population's health has been negatively impacted by a lack of access to care. Whether it's long wait times, a provider shortage, or a patient's inability to travel to receive care – there can be many roadblocks to receiving quality healthcare. That's why I was glad to have the opportunity to attend the ribbon cutting for the new Mobile Health Unit at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare...!

This mobile unit will focus on providing medical and mental health services to historically underserved areas in Chesapeake. The services they provide will be available to patients who are insured, uninsured, low-income, and those enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. It was an honor to join healthcare providers as well as local Chesapeake community members to celebrate this exciting new method to provide care to the region...! Thank you for having me and for all you do to provide top notch healthcare for Virginians! 

Fighting for Our Active Duty Servicemembers

Recently, I joined the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America at their monthly lunch meeting...! We have so many retired military officers in our community who have served our great nation. It was an honor to thank them for their service and update them on the important work we are doing in Washington to support our veterans and military!

As a former Navy helicopter pilot, Navy spouse, and now Navy mom, I am laser focused on addressing quality of life issues facing our servicemembers and their families. I am proud to have served on the House Armed Services Committee's bipartisan Quality of Life Panel over the past year where we released a total of 31 recommendations to improve the lives of our military families. These recommendations addressed so many challenges facing our military men and women, ranging from servicemember compensation, housing, childcare, spousal support, and healthcare. I am proud to report that all of our Quality of Life Panel recommendations were included in the House passed FY25 NDAA! It's an honor to advocate for our active duty military members, their families, and our nation's veterans.

Visiting with Hampton Roads' Dialysis Providers

Last week, I stopped by DaVita Virginia Beach Dialysis Center to visit the incredible healthcare providers who treat patients with kidney problems. I've seen how difficult it can be for people to manage kidney disease and know how impactful dialysis providers can be in their treatments.

It was easy to see how DaVita Virginia Beach is dedicated to providing excellent care for their patients and our community as a whole. Thank you for all you do and for showing me around your facility...!

Protecting and Preserving the Chesapeake Bay

Living on the beach and the bay, Coastal Virginians know how important it is to be good stewards of our environment, especially the Chesapeake Bay...! I was proud to join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for a panel discussion about a collaborative approach to enhance and sustain the health of the Chesapeake Bay. It was wonderful to join Delegates Anne Ferrell Tata, and Alex Askew, as well as representatives from Governor Youngkin's administration and the City of Norfolk.

Our region's economic success is directly tied to the Chesapeake Bay through tourism, trade, and aquaculture. Preserving the Chesapeake Bay is essential to ensuring future generations will be able to enjoy all that the Bay has to offer. In Congress, I have been proud to advocate for policies that will work towards these goals. Thank you for having me!

Weekly Poll

With over 1,200 votes last week, more than 75% of you said that the federal government shouldn't provide assistance for downpayment on homes. I agree with you! If we've learned anything over the past several years, it's that more government spending causes higher costs for American families and contributes to out-of-control inflation.

And now on to this week's poll question!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week I would like to honor Medal of Honor recipient Brigadier General William Wilbur of the United States Army (Medal of Honor Action Date: November 8, 1942).

Wilbur was born September 24, 1888, in Palmer, Massachusetts. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1912 and joined the Army from his birth city of Palmer, Massachusetts. After being commissioned, he spent three years in Panama and then three years as an instructor at West Point. In June 1918, Wilbur was promoted to major in the American Expeditionary Forces and sent to France, where he saw combat in World War I and commanded a battalion. Throughout the inter-war period, Wilbur served in various roles and locations in the U.S. Army. By the time the United States joined World War II, Wilbur had been promoted to the rank of colonel and he was put in charge of the 60th Infantry Regiment.

On November 8, 1942, Wilbur participated in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. He served on the staff of Major General George S. Patton as part of the Western Task Force, charged with capturing the city of Casablanca, Morocco, from the Vichy French forces. Several American officers, including Wilbur, were chosen to carry messages to French commanders who were believed to be sympathetic towards the Allies. Wilbur was assigned to contact the admiral of the French naval forces in Casablanca, and deliver to him a letter from General Patton to gain assistance from these French commanders, or at least convince them to lay down their arms and not oppose the invasion.

After landing with the first assault wave in Fedala, Wilbur approached the French lines under a white flag of truce and was escorted to their division headquarters. Finding that his intermediate contact there had been arrested for treason, he attempted to give the letter to the presiding general. The general refused to accept it, so Wilbur placed the letter on the man's desk and left. Before reaching his vehicle, he was stopped by another officer who offered to take him to the French Admiral. Upon arriving at the admiral's headquarters, he was turned away.

After arriving back at the Allied-held beachhead, Wilbur led an attack against a French artillery battery. One of the few French guns still firing in the area, the battery was targeting Allied ships off shore. Wilbur gathered four tanks and a company of infantry to assault the position. He personally accompanied the group, riding along on the lead tank, and commanded them in the successful capture of the battery.

For his bravery in action and dedication to preventing American bloodshed, Wilbur was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in December of 1942. He was presented the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during a ceremony in Casablanca on January 22, 1943, in the midst of the Casablanca Conference, in a ceremony attended by General Patton and the Secretary of the Army. It was the first time that a U.S. President conferred the Medal of Honor to an American soldier on foreign soil.

He continued serving in the Army for the remainder of World War II, retiring in 1947. After the war, he often spoke about the ongoing conflict in Korea. His son, Lt. William H. Wilbur, Jr., was killed in Korea and posthumously awarded the Army's second-highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross. For the remainder of his life, he was active in local law enforcement and even authored several non-fiction books. He died at age 91 and was buried in the West Point Cemetery on the grounds of his alma mater. 

Fun Fact of the Week!

Did you know that on August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was signed by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby and the right of women to vote was officially added to the Constitution? The first constitutional amendment that would give women the ability to vote was introduced in 1878. In 1890, when Wyoming became a state, their constitution was the first to guarantee women voting rights. The fight continued until 1918, when momentum began to swing with 15 states extending voting rights into the sphere of gender.

The 19th amendment passed the House in January of 1918 but failed in the Senate. The second attempt to pass the amendment was successful, passing both the House and the Senate. On August 18,1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, and the requirement of a ¾ states majority to add it to the Constitution was fulfilled. The certified record arrived in Washington D.C. the morning of August 26, 1920 and it was signed shortly after. 

As always, please don't hesitate to contact my DC Office at (202) 225-4215 or my Virginia Beach District Office at (757) 364-7650 with questions, concerns, or if you require assistance with a federal agency. And don't forget - if you’d like to stay up to date with what I’m working on, check out my website and follow my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages (linked below) to stay up to date!

If you or your family are visiting Washington DC in the coming summer months, please stop by to say hello! If you are interested in a tour, please let us know!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District